Interview with Christopher Doyle, International Healing Foundation

This month, we have the privilege of speaking with Christopher Doyle, President and Co-Founder of Voice of the Voiceless.

Chris, please tell us a little about yourself. What’s your story?

I grew up in a Christian home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with parents that loved God, but came from very dysfunctional families. Both of my parents came from alcoholic, abusive, and high-stress families and unfortunately, brought their unresolved issues into our family. My father learned to numb himself out from all the physical and substance abuse he encountered when he was young, so while he was there for me physically, emotionally he was on another planet that even he hadn’t discovered. My mother, on the other hand, was so hungry emotionally due to a mentally-ill father and distant mother, that she devoured me when she couldn’t get her needs met with dad.

This combination left me insecure in my gender identity, making it tough to relate with guys but longing for attention. At eight years old, I was sexually abused by an older female relative, which awakened my sexuality at a very young age. My adolescence was confusing. I had developed same-sex attractions and felt helpless to control these urges, while at the same time, I also was also drawn to women, but unable to form healthy relationships due to the wounding from my abuse. My sexual pursuits generally turned to guys, who I longed for attention and affirmation from—but when I was 23, God was faithful to bring healing opportunities in my life.

I moved to Washington, DC after college and begin attending a church with a vibrant young adult ministry, which placed me in a weekly men’s Bible study. Bonding and being accepted from these guys opened up my heart to God and fostered healing in places from men that had previously been wounded. My same-sex attractions became non-existent in the matter of months and I began to grow curious as to how this happened and began doing research. Around the time I met my wife, I began taking graduate school classes and eventually enrolled in Liberty University’s professional counseling program while starting my family. Today, Sherry and I have been married for nearly seven years and we have three beautiful children, Andrew (5), Ariana (3), and Aaron (1 month). God was faithful to grant the desires of my heart, to marry a woman and have children.

We know that you’ll be heading to Washington D.C. the end of next month with a team to celebrate Ex-“Gay” Awareness month. What should we know about that? Who is it for?

Ex-“Gay” Awareness month is one of the first projects of Voice of the Voiceless (VoV), a new anti-defamation league and public advocacy organization for former homosexuals, individuals with unwanted same-sex attractions, and their families. Gay activists have really been aggressive in defining who ex-gays are and portraying them in a negative light. There has also been a consistent, planned attack on therapists and organizations that offer help to those struggling with SSA from the Southern Poverty Law Center. There has not been a consistent, coordinated defense against these attacks, so VoV is filling that void.

Ex-“Gay” Awareness month will highlight the discrimination of ex-gays and individuals who have SSA but do not identify as LGBT in our nation’s schools, and bring awareness to the marginalization the face at the hands of activists and the media, who do portray them correctly or lump them in in with LGBT persons.

We as a group need to be protected just as LGBT individuals are and allowed to speak our truth in the public – our voices are often stifled due to political correctness, as was recently seen with Ex-“Gay” Gospel singer Donnie McClurklin being discriminated at the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington. We are planning some eye-opening activities for September so the public can see who we are and the challenges we face.

At the end of the month on September 29- 30, we are co-hosting a lobbying day on Capitol Hill and an evening dinner reception where Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel will be presented the First Annual Ex-“Gay” Freedom Aware for his legal advocacy on behalf of our community. Several prominent faith and ex-“gay” leaders will also speak. You can find more information about these events on our website at www.VoiceoftheVoiceless.info

How can we pray for your ministry? How else can we get involved and support you?

Pray that God opens up media opportunities for our voices to be heard. What we really need is financial support for a public relations team to help us get national exposure. We also need individuals to come out of the shadows and let their voices be heard with us in Washington, DC at the end of September. It’s time we unite and work together—otherwise, our rights will continue be taken away by activists. Please join us in September!